Foxes

Urban Comedy · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2010, 04:17 PM

A fox has recently decided that my lawn makes an excellent toilet - Anyone know how to deter it please?

BTW - I know it's a fox; it's been living with us for years and the garden is enclosed so it can't be a dog.

Deb London · #2 (**permalink**) 14-10-2010, 04:57 PM

I'd suggest an ultrasonic fox deterrent. The sound is not supposed to travel to neighbouring gardens, in case you are worried about pet dogs in the area.

mbaldw · #3 (**permalink**) 14-10-2010, 06:06 PM

I've just written an article about fox deterrence for my website, which you might find helpful:

Wildlife Online - Red fox deterrence

Here are a couple of other links that should also help:

Deterring Foxes (Lewisham Council) - opens PDF
The Fox Project
Garden Banter (forum with links and discussion on fox deterrence)

Good luck!
Cheers,
Marc.

Hedgehoggy · #4 (**permalink**) 18-10-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbaldw

I've just written an article about fox deterrence for my website, which you might find helpful:

Wildlife Online - Red fox deterrence

Hi Urban Comedy, as well as the very informative and helpful article quoted, Marc has also written other fox Q/As, which are listed at the end of his main Red Fox page, and make for very interesting reading too:

Wildlifeonline - Natural History of the Red Fox

Urban Comedy · #5 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 11:25 AM

Oh Dear...now that I've read that article - and seen the scat photos - I'm no longer sure it's a fox! Afterall, why would it live with us for years before starting to deficate on my lawn?
Suddenly I'm thinking that it may be a cat - but don't they drop their poo in soil then bury it (There are no "scratch marks in the surrounding grass)?

Anyone know a good website with "poo photos"?

mbaldw · #6 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Suddenly I'm thinking that it may be a cat - but don't they drop their poo in soil then bury it (There are no "scratch marks in the surrounding grass)?

Sometimes, but that tends to be those that live in the house - our neighbouring cats rarely seem to cover their scat. That said, they tend to go in the flowerbeds, rather than on the lawn - that tends to be foxes more often than cats. Can you post a photo of the scat you're finding on your lawn?

Cheers,
Marc.

rogpow · #7 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Comedy

Suddenly I'm thinking that it may be a cat - but don't they drop their poo in soil then bury it (There are no "scratch marks in the surrounding grass)?

My neighbour's cat uses my lawn on a daily basis and makes no attempt to bury it. Don't get me started!!!

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 05:55 PM

Sounds more like a cat on the basis that foxes dont usually scat in the middle of flat lawns. If you had a tussocky lawn or a raised patch then maybe.

Urban Comedy · #9 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 06:55 PM

Please forgive my ignorance - what is a - a tussocky lawn or a raised patch. ?

Dogghound · #10 (**permalink**) 19-10-2010, 07:01 PM

When grass grows thick it forms tussocks, these a dense patches (tufts) of tall grass, foxes like to scat (poo) on these to mark their territory. By raised patch I just ment a mound or mole hill ect. Foxes like elevated features to scat on.